Changing Young Lives Through Ultimate
by Jean Gaetan
“THANK YOU for helping me change young lives through Ultimate,” says Barbara Denison (known worldwide simply as “Bubba”) to the lunchtime Riversiders. For several weeks each summer, Bubba puts on an Ultimate Spirit Camp for kids that attend the South Austin Boys & Girls Club. Many of these kids come from difficult backgrounds and Bubba has long held the vision that Ultimate can play a unique role in teaching these kids true life skills.
In multiple camps throughout the summer, Bubba tirelessly works with kids for five straight days; teaching them the rules of Ultimate and helping them develop basic game skills. But far more important is her great emphasis on spirit of the game. Many of these kids are growing up in challenging environments with little structure and affectionate-discipline. They may learn the street skills needed to survive, but not the social skills needed to prosper. Simply learning to resolve disagreements without shouting, pushing or shoving can be a breakthrough.
Bubba’s Ultimate Summer Camp reaches a peak on the fourth day of camp with a field trip to Zilker Park to play in the Riverside lunch game. Before taking the kids to the field, Bubba notifies the Riverside players in advance that not all of the kids have earned the right to play. “The group is younger, and specific players have been invited to join in the game as a privilege for good behavior.”
Though not ALL of the kids will step onto the field, Bubba encourages the Riverside players to throw with the kids on the sideline. Even just talking with them makes a difference. Bubba says, “They are mostly fourth and fifth graders and will have plenty of time to play when they have committed to appropriate behavior among their peers and have spent time in consistent practice to develop skills.”
Even those that don’t play will learn important lessons by watching others play with good spirit. And, you’ll find few pick-up games that are more spirited than Riverside at lunchtime.
After Bubba’s camp joined last week’s game, Nolan Ley, Program Coordinator for the South Austin Boys/Girls Club sent this letter of thanks to Riverside:
On behalf of the South Austin Boys and Girls Club I want to thank all of you that made today a very special day for some of our youth. Megan, Zach, Carlos, A.J., Tyson, Sydney and Alec all got to play significant time and were thrilled during and after the game. When arriving back at the Club around 3pm they continued throwing the disk and were on quite a high throughout the afternoon. By far, that will be a memorable day of Ultimate for them as they continue their summer/fall Ultimate season!
We were very thankful to have a wonderful group share the field and game with our youth. Thanks again and all the best throughout the rest of the summer season.
Little Megan and Zach are even proud owners of the Riverside 20th Anniversary T-shirt for being such outstanding players!
The final session of Ultimate Spirit Camp for the 2009 summer meets August 10-14. That means the last group of kids is scheduled to join the Riverside lunch game on August 13th.
More information can be found by visiting www.UltimateSpirit.org where the motto persists: Ultimate. Play the Game...LIVE the Spirit!
